Brexit-Negotiations: a Kingdom in Decay

The Ireland problem is preventing a Brexit agreement between the EU and the British. And it shows: not the EU is suffering a process of decay, but Britain.

Brexit-Negotiations: a Kingdom in Decay

British Prime Minister Theresa May wanted to achieve a breakthrough in Brussels. 55 billion euro, she supposedly had as an offer in her luggage to settle divorce bill. That was not far from order of magnitude that EU is asking for farewell. There has also been movement on issue of rights of EU citizens living in Britain. It was said that in future, British courts would put certain cases to European Court of Justice. This would have made London meet two central EU requirements.

Phrases instead of results

These proposals from London were recorded in a 15-page document. It was promising, and around Berlaymont, seat of Commission, re was such a feeling of euphoria this morning. But in end it did not suffice. "We have made progress," said EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker at joint final press conference with Theresa May. "We have not reached a complete agreement." Juncker added, "It is not a failure!" Shortly reafter, two left stage.

In fact, negotiators have progressed, but as y solved problems, anor dramatic worsened: so-called Ireland question. How should border between Ireland and Norrn Ireland look like after Brexit? The Irish Government had made it clear that it would not accept a hard line. It must remain as it is between Ireland and Norrn Ireland. EU Council President Donald Tusk supported this position explicitly. Even May had always promised.

But how can border remain open if Britain wants to leave customs union and internal market? Even most creative lawyers have not yet found an answer.

Status? So are we!

May now offer following solution in Brussels: Norrn Ireland would receive a special status and continue to abide by EU rules and standards. In essence, that means so much that re will be a hard limit, but it is going to be between Norrn Ireland and rest of Britain in future. This concession, Mays, triggered Norrn Irish party's DUP protests. This party, with its ten deputies, supports Mays government. If DUP may withdraw its support, may would plunge into a severe government crisis. She broke off negotiations in Brussels.

Two weeks time, negotiators still have time to move forward. On 14 and 15 December, Heads of State and Government of Union will meet in Brussels. If you find that re is "sufficient progress", negotiations will continue. If not, n a hard Brexit, a farewell without agreement, threatens. A disaster for both sides.

Mays Concession in Ireland issue have aroused desires in Britain. The Scottish Prime minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said what is true of Norrn Ireland cannot be denied to ors. And Mayor of London Sadigh Khan tweeted: "If Theresa May has conceded that it is possible for a part of United Kingdom to remain in internal market and customs Union, this has a huge impact on London. The Londoners voted by a large majority for ir whereabouts in EU. A similar deal could save tens of thousands of jobs! "

It looks as if Brexit has triggered a decay process. It is not EU that is affected, but United Kingdom. No one should be happy about it.

Date Of Update: 05 December 2017, 12:02
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